Following an audience with the Pope, the BMW Group yesterday handed over a BMW X5 to the Holy Father. Dr. Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Marco Saltalamacchia, President of BMW Italy, represented the company at the official reception.

Michael Ganal: "We are proud to be able to provide Pope Benedict XVI with a BMW car.“

The BMW X5 increases the number of BMW vehicles owned by the Vatican: in addition to a fleet of BMW C1 two-wheelers, the official Vatican vehicle fleet has two more BMW automobiles: a BMW 525ix and a BMW 740i.